Adjustable and convertible gate.



1. H. TAUSCH.

ADJUSTABLE AND CONVERTIBLE GATE.

APPLICATION FILED 1AN.21.1915.

3 SHEETS-SHEET l.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

J. H. TAUSCH.

ADJUSTABLE AND CONVERTIBLE GATE.

` APPLICATION FILED JAN-21.1915. 1,168,23.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Patented Jan. 11, 1916.

LH. TAUSCH. ADJUSTABLE AND CONVERTIBLE GATE.

APPLICATION FILED IAN.2I, I9I5.

1,168,233., Patented 51311.11, 1916.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' II\I Y IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIJII III` say ari ics.

JOSEPH H. TAUSGI-I, OF VAUKEGAN, ILLINOIS, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE GORTON, OF RACINEW'ISCVO1\TSIN.

l ADJUSTABLE ANI) CONVERTIBLE GATE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented ,Imm 11, gl

Application ined January 21, 1915. serial No. 3,428.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrri I-I. TAUsori, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at the city of lVaukegan, in the county of vLake and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable and Convertible Gates, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in gates in general, but has particular relation to fence gates of the adjustable type, which are by preference made of metal and are adapted for barring all kinds of stock, and cattle, as well as, sheep, pigs and hogs, yet if desired, can be so adjusted as to permit the passage of the smaller animals while shutting out or barring the larger ones, and it consists in certain peculiarities of the construction, novel arrangement and operation of the various parts thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully set forth and specifiq cally claimed. v

The principal object of the invention is to provide a gate of the above named general character, which shall, as a whole, be simple and inexpensive in construction, strong, durable and efficient in operation, capable of being opened in either direction, adjusted bodily and vertically on its hinges or adjusted at an angle withv respect to the ground without interfering with the hinges.

To accomplish these results, other objects of the invention are to provide an improved hinge-member by means of which the' gate can be bodily adjusted to the desired height and there securely maintained; to furnish an automatic-latch for engaging the free end of the gate, when the latter is swung in either direction, and locking the same in its closed position; to supply simple yet effective means, or attachment for locking the parts of the gate in their normal positions, or in the positions they will assume when the gate is adjusted to its angular position, or, in other words, to convert the gate into a rigid-frame gate or an adjustable frame one', or vice versa.

Still another object is to provide an improved trussebrace. for uniting the central portions of the upper and lower rails of the gate in such a manner that they will'be strongly connected yet so as to' permit of the necessary movement thereof in the angular adjustment of the gate. Various other objects and advantages of the invention will be disclosed in the subjoined description and explanation.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate the invention Figure l is a view in elevation of a gate embodying the di'erent improvements, and illustrating by continuous lines the normal position of the gate, and by dotted lines the positions the parts will assume when the gate is adjusted at an angle to the ground so as to permit small animals, such as hogs and sheep,to pass thereunder; Fig. 2- is a plan view partly in section of the front end bar of the gate, showing the latch mounted thereon, and illustrating by dotted lines one of the positions to which it can be turned on the gate bar, so that the arms thereof will automatically and positively engage the holding member therefor on the fence post at the front of the gate; Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on line 3 3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. 4 is a plan sectional view taken on line 4 4 of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the locking bolt or block for the latch arms; Fig. y6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the upper part of the front bar of the gate and a part of the upper horizontal rail thereof, showing the attachment or meansfor rigidly holding the parts ofthe gate with respect to one another, whether they occupy their normal positions or their adjusted positions; Fig. 7 is a crosssectional view taken on line 7 7 of Fig. 6, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows; Fig. S is a similar v-iew taken; on

line 8 8 of Fig. 6; Fig. 9 is a fragmental view partly in elevation and partly in section of a portion of the rigidly securing attachment, showing a modification in its construction; Fig. l0 is a side view of a portion of the rear end bar of the gate, a part of the rear fence post showing the improved adjustable hinge secured to the latter and engaging the said gate bar; Fig. ll is an inner face view of like parts; Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view taken on line 12-12 of Fig. ll; Fig. 13 is a plan view of one of the hinge brackets; Fig. 14 is a side -view of the truss-brace for the central portion -of j Vor rig. 14..`

Vbars and rails.

the'gate or .fence post .at the rear end of-V the gate. The front post 2 0 isprovided on its tace adjacent to the-gate with a vertica lly extended rodor tube 22, which is` Vspaced from and secured to the post by means of hollow extensions 23, through which and the member 22 are passed bolts which engagesaid post. rl`his upright memberor tube 22 is employed as akeeper for the arms of the latch,"as 'will be presently explained. The rear post 2l hassecured at Vsuitable points, oneabovethe other, on the face of the post adjacent to the gate, a pair of hinge brackets24, which may be of the construction illustratedv in Figs. l0 to 13 inclusive of the drawings. The gate consists ot two-upright end bars 25 and 26, which are pivotally united ,near their upper and l lower ends ,by-'horizontally' disposed tubes or rails 27 and`23 respectively. Each of; the end barsv 25 and 2G fof the gatel is'by preference U-shapcd-infci'osssection and have their open portions presented toward each other. rlfhe ends ofthe rails or tubes'27 'v and 23'` are `by preference inserted'between the walls ,of the U-shape'd bars 25 and 26, andare secured in position by means of piv.- ots'iQ, extendedtransversely through said A net work, indicated yas a whole bythe reference numeral30, of 'in -tersec'tin-g wires or small rods forms the body of the'gate, whichis located within the space/bounded 'by the-endbars 25" and 2 6 i"and the 'upper and-*lower rails 27 ,and 28,

and-may beA secured atl oneof :its ends, preferablythe-r'ront.end, byiextending the horirzontal 'wires around the -bar 25,fand at its other or rear end 1' by ladjustable or screw 'bolts 3l, extended "through an upright 32 in "engagement with one end of the net work 30 and engaging' Vthe rear barV 26 ofthe gate. By this means the desired longitudinal ten- Vsion oi the net work may be regulated and f ist maintained. As i shown in' Fig. l of the drawings, the upper ends of the bars 25 and Y23 1Jro'ect some distance abovethe up 3er l i L frail27 ofthegate, and'each ot said bars has fitted thereon a cap 33, each'ol which is provided with an apertured-extensioii .34, on its inner 'ace, in which extensions the ends ol-the brace-wire or rod is secured. Mountedzon 'the front gate bar 25at a -suitable.point between its Aends is a 'latch .rcarr-ying'bracket, fwhich is. designated as a -whol'eby thenumeral '36, 'andsaid :bracket .consists of twomembe'rs 37, counterparts of one "aneth i, 'each ,having at opposite yends apeitiiredlugs 3Ssfor the'rece'ptionof bolts 39, used for securing the members Q37 tolthe front orv Aof the drawings, from'whichyiew it will be Yunderstood that the inner faces of the niembersV of the bracket 36 are provided with recesses 40 of a shape that 'when said members are united they will correspond with the shape of the bar 25, which, in`tli`eprs- 'ent instance is U-'shaped Howeiver, the recesses 40 of the members 37 may be of other .shapes than that shown, and said members may be secured to the bai' 25 if the saine is of other shape than U-shape,'byanyl suitable means. Each of the vmembers 37 of the bracket 36,'is provided on its outer surface between its upper yand'lo'wer ends with a curved groove, which, when said pieces are joined together, 'form a bearing 42 (see Fig. 4) for the curved portions of the latch-arms 43,'which latch-arms are secured together "by means ,ct bolts 44 extended through suitable openings in their rear'endsa'nd 'it'ronft portions. The'. frontv parts' othe latcharms 43 are diverged or flared, as is clearly lshown in Fig. 2, so'as to more readily engage'the' keeper 22 'therefor on the front gate' post.l v As `shown in F igs.12, 3 and 4, the rearfportionsV of the members 37 are provided-l with upwardly extended housings 45, through-an opening in the'iipper 'parts of whichfiseivf tended a lockinghandle 46,' which has-secured on its lower end a block or 'bolt 47 which operates partially in averticalrecess 43 inthe rear portion of the circular or bearing part 42 of the bracket 33,A and partially in vertical recesses 49,1orined in thegrea-r portion of the arms 43,*attheirfadjacentor meeting edges. Each ofl-thememb'ers 4'3li`as a segmental '1"ec`ess'50, formed iii-its 'per 'surface adjacent to'its inner edge, at the rear' portion thereof, and 'each of "said 'members has in its' front portion a recess v5lfoffsaiiliA .cient size, when theV members43 are united,

as shown in Fig. 4, to receive-agp'ortion of. the bolt or block 47, whichis-normallyV pressed downwardly and held 'in-engagemerit with the recess 48 of the rounded vo r bearing portion 42 of the member 37 of the bracket,

and with the recesses 49, of the vlatch-arms, "iis by means of a spring 52,'Ywhich surrounds the vertical portion of .the handle 43,v and rests at one of its ends against theiup'per portion of the housing l45, andat its vvlower end against the block 47, whichblock or bolt normally holds the latcliiii'gziiins 43 -in their locked or normal positions,as shown in F igs.

l and 2 of the drawings. but which maybe released therefrom byraising the handle 46,

kin which operation the blockg'47 :will dis- Y engaged from there'cesses therefor andper- 1mit the latchearms 43 to tum ,tame .postih indicated by dotted lines in F-ig. QQ'f-Hfe drawings. Afterv the handle 4l6and'blockl-'4i-7 have been raised lto permit ofthe"aforesaid rie spring 52 will depress the bolt or block 4:7, into one of the recesses 50 of the latch-arms,

thus allowing the said arms to turn for a restricted movement, or until the block 47 engages one of the ends of said segmental recesses, in which position the latch-arms will be frictionally held until one of them strikes the keeper 22, on closing the gate, when 1t is apparent that said arms will be restored to their normal positions, and the bolt L17 will be shot or forced into the recesses therefor b y its actuating spring. rThe recesses 5l are provided in the front parts of the ,arms 48, so that in shipping the latch said arms may be turned half way around on the bearing e2, when the bolt 47 will engage the recesses 51 and hold the arms l5 in substantial parallelism with the handle 4:6 of the bracket.

.In adjusting the gate to an angular position with'respect to the ground so as to permit small animals to pass under the bottom rail of the gate, yet to keep out larger animals, the front part of the gate may be lifted, when the parts will assume about the positions shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings, in which operation it is obvious that as the arms 4&8 of the latch stride the keeperI 22,l they will be free to move upwardly on said keeper, yet in such a manner as to hold the gate in its closed position. Before this raising can be done, however, the attachment for rigidly holding thek frame must be suitably manipulated. 'l his attachment consists of a link or bar 53, which has its upper end pivotally connected to the upper end of the front bar 25, of the gate, (but in the present instance it is shown so connected to the cap 33 on said bar), and a yoke 54: pivotally supported on the lower end of the bar 53 and embracing the top rail 27 of the gate. The opening 55 of the yoke or member 51l is of sufficient size to loosely7 encompass the rail 27, and said member has in the upper and lower portions of its opening 55 a movably located biting or gripping member 56, which is preferably made of hardened metal or steel and rectangular in cross section. rlhe lower portion of the bar or link 53 isl provided with a depending` projection 57, located directly in front of the upper portion of the yoke or member 54, and is employed for the purpose of restricting` the forward movement of said member. Extended across the lower portion of the link 53, in front of the projection 57 thereof is a spring 5S, which is bent over the pivot 59, which connects the upper portion of the yoke or member 54C, with said link, and has its lower portion in engagement with the yoke tonormally hold the same in about the position shown by continuous lines in 6 of the drawings.

instead of equipping the lower portion of the link 53 with a spring of the above' mentioned construction, a projection 57 a, having a socket 58a and a coiled spring 58h, located in said socket, and resting against the front upper portion of the yoke or member 5, may be employed for the same purpose. Now, assuming that the parts are in the positions shown by continuous lines in Figs. 1 and 6 of the drawings, and it is desired to raise the gate to its angular adjusted position, it will be necessary to move the yoke or member 5l from the position shown by continuous lines in Fig. 6, to about the position shown by dotted lines in said ligure, when it is appz ent that the flat surfaces of the biting or gripping members 56 will be presented to opposite surfaces of the rail 27, thus permitting the yoke and rail comparatively free movement with respect to one another, until the desired angle of the parts of the gate is reached, when it is apparent the yoke or member 54twill be caused to assume about the position indicated by continuous lines in Figs. l, 6 and 9, by reason of the pressure of the spring which actuates said yoke, and that the gripping members 56 will so engage the rail 27 as to hold the parts of the gate rigidly with respect to one another.

The rear end bar 26 of the gate is provided in its front surface with a series of recesses 60, located one above the other, for the purpose of engaging a holding member of the adjustable hinge, which holding member 61 is by preference horse-shoe-shape and provided with an opening 62, somewhat larger than the gate bar 26, but by preference of a corresponding shape. rlfhe front portion of the holding member 61 of the adjustable hinge is provided with a transverse portion 63, and opposite said portion said member is provided with a projection 61, extended at right angles from the meinber 61, or substantially so, to rest on the upper surface of the bracket 2e, which is secured to the fence post 2l', at the rear end of the gate. rlhe bracket 2a is by preference angular, as shown in Figs. 10 and 11, and its vertical portion is provided with a plurality of vertical slots 65, to receive bolts 66, eX- tended through said slots into the post 21, at the rear end of the gate. By this arrangement, it is obvious that if it is desired to raise the gate body the holding member 61 of the adjustable hinge can be loosened from one of the recesses 60 of the gate bar l 26, so that said bar can be moved with the gate to any desired height, in which operation the holding member 61, will assume about the position shown by dotted lines in Fig. l0, until the extension 6st of said member is allowedv to rest on the ledge or horizontal portion of the bracket 2li, when it is obvious that said member will engage at its front portion one of the recesses 60 of the bar 26, and at its rear portion the rear part of said bar, thus holding' said post and the gate at the desired height with respect to the ground. Another hinge n ember 24, shown in Fig. 13, which may be of the same construction as the bracket 2li, shown in Figs. l0 and 11, oi" the drawings, may be employed to hold and guide the lower part ot the gate -bar 26, and tor this purpose, like the bracket 24 of the first described construction, is providedfwith a circular openingy 67 for the reception of the rear gate bar. As this lower hingemember does not support the adjustable holder 6l, the horizontal ledge or flange thereof may be reduced, or, in other words, it may be cut away as indicated by the dotted lines 68 in F ig. 13 of the drawings.

ln order to imite and brace the upper and lower rails 27 and 28 respectively, of the gate at about their middle portions, and yet to allow them slight movement at said points, necessary in adjusting the gate to its angular position with respect to the ground, a truss-brace bar is, employed, which consists of two'oppositely and slightly bowed members G9 and 70, one of which is located on each side oi'f the rails 27 and 28 and are by preference in cross section semi-circular as shown in Fig. l5 of the drawings. These bars are secured together by means of bolts 7l, above and belowthe rails 27 and 28, as is clearly shown in F ig. le, and thus firmly clamp and support said bais in a truss-like manner.v

Having thus fully described my invention .what I claim as new and desire to secure by 'end bar and a rear end bar, ot upper and lower rails pivotally connecting the end bars, a link pivotally connected at. one of its ends t0 one of the end bars, a Aspring actuated member loosely embracing oiie of said rails and Ypivotally connected to the other end of said link.

2. In a gate, the combination with a front end bar and a rear end bar, oi` upper and lower rails ypivotally connecting the end bars, a link pivotally connected at one of its ends to one of the end bars, a member pivotally connected at one oit' its ends to the other end of said linkand having parts' extended above and below said rail, and a gripping'or biting member interposed between each of thek said upper and lower parts and thefrai'l.

3. in a gate, the combination with a front endbar and a rear end bar, of upper `and rails and` pivotally connected to the other c end of said link, and bitingmembers interposed between the upper andlower parts of the last named member and said rail.

4. ln a gate, the combination with a front end bar and a rear end bar, of upper and lower rails pivotally connecting they end bars, net work located in the space bounded by said rails and bars andy connected to said end bars and rails a truss-brace comprising a. pair ot members extending transversely of'said upper and lower rails with one on each side thereof, said members *being slightly bowed co-eXtensive of their lengths from each other, and clamping means'positioned above and below each of theV rails to hold said brace-members in engagement with vsaid rails at substantially one point on 'each side thereof to provide a movable connection between the brace and rails. p

5. ln a gate, the combination with a front end bar and arear end bar, of upper and lowerrails pivotally connecting said endk bars, net work located in the space bounded vby said rails and bars a pair of members substantially semi-circular in cross section extended transversely 'of said upper and lower rails with one on each side thereof,

said members being slightly bowed co-eX- tensive of their lengths Vfrom each other and presenting their flat vsurfaces to said rails and a pair of bolts extended through vsaid members, one of said bolts above and the other below each of the rails to hold said brace-meinbers vin engagement with' said rails at substantially one point on each side thereof to provide a. movablevconnection be- Vtween the brace and rails. p

JOSEPH H. TAUSCH. lVitnesses: y

CHAs. C. TILLMAN, A. S. PHILLIPS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Iiatents Washington, D. C. 

